Three days after Interior Minster Sar Kheng said authorities have identified a suspect in the shooting of three female factory workers at a special economic zone (SEX) in Svay Rieng Province, no arrests have been made and officials yesterday continued to refuse to name the gunman.While Mr. Kheng decried the shooting during a speech at he opening of the Interior Ministry’s annual review on Tuesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen reiterated the position that security forces should not become embroiled in land disputes but did not comment on the Svay Rieng shooting when he spoke at the close of the meeting yesterday.
Three women were wounded when a uniformed gunman opened fire at a strike protest that turned violent in Bavet city’s Manhattan SEZ on Monday.
While government officials remain silent on the identity of the shooter, Svay Rieng Provincial Governor Chieng Am defended Bavet city governor Chhuk Bundith following a media report yesterday that contained claims he was involved in Monday’s attack.
“It is a very sensitive case, and it is not time to speak a bout [Mr. Bundith] because it can destroy his dignity, “Mr. Am said, adding that Mr. Bundith had been absent during three emergency meetings held after the shooting because he was at a meeting in Kompong Cham Province.
However, Keo Kong, Bavet City police chief, said that Mr. Bundith was in Phnom Penh attending the annual meeting of the Interior Ministry.
Mr. Bundith could not be reached for comment yesterday, though he has denied the allegations to reporters.
Two eyewitness to the shooting said yesterday that the shooter wore a bodyguard style uniform, and that he was accompanied by other similarly uniformed men.
SRP lawmaker Mu Sochua, who traveled to Svay Rieng after the shooting, urged Mr. Kheng to make good on his speech condemning the gunman and promising justice.
“I totally support what Sar Kheng says, but he has to take it further…. Arrest the man, show his picture and let workers identify the perpetrator, “said Ms. Sochua.
Gender and Development Network (GADNet), which represents 62 civil society groups, released a statement yesterday that echoed Ms. Sochua’s appeal.
“GADNet calls on the Royal Government of Cambodia and relevant institutions to take immediate investigative actions to identify and sentence the shooters,” the statement reads.
Following a three-day work stoppage at the SEZ following the attack-during which time the factories involved agreed to the monetary demands of the workers whose violent protest prompted the shooting – factory staff are due to resume operation today.
Larry Kao, the SEZ’s managing director, said yesterday that factory managers are now hoping for calm.
“We just want some peace and for the workers to peacefully arrive and do their jobs,” he said. Mr. Kao said police would be stationed nearby to monitor the return to work, but the declinded to elaborate.
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Sorry for copy and paste these sentences go into this blog!
To promote Economic Land Concession in Cambodia!
Thank you to Phnom Penh Post Newspaper!Please forgive!